The Power Of Intention -
The Power To Live As We Will

The power of intention is a subtle, yet almighty force, that is all our own. Understanding and harnessing the power of intent allows us to direct our lives from the inside-out. With intention we can transform negativity and direct the creative powers of the subconscious mind. Through conscious intent we can co-create our lives with the powers that be.

What Is Intention Power?

"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them."

~Michael Jordan

The word 'intention', or 'intent', comes from the Latin word 'intentus', which means 'a stretching out' (source: the online etymology dictionary). Intention power, is the power we have to reach out from within and stretch. It is the power we have to extend our influence.

Thus, living with intent means to live a life that stretches, extends or expands. Instead of sitting around waiting for life to happen to us, we go out and meet it. We extend ourselves and exert our influence, living a proactive vs. reactive life.

The Warrior Within

Marcus Aurelius, in "The Meditations", talks about the 'directing mind'. The 'directing mind' is that part of us which is independent and free of outer influence. It is the master or warrior within that empowers us to make choices out of our own free will. The 'directing mind' is the power of intention within.

If we want to change the way we experience things, if we want to improve our lives, we can. The power of conscious intent is always at our disposal. The warrior within is always there for us, waiting for us to call upon it... waiting for us to live it.

The warrior within is the power of pure intent that we have to direct and shape our lives. No-one can live our lives for us. We must make our own choices and pave our way. Outer circumstances and influences must not determine life for us. The warrior within uses circumstance as stepping stones for the path. A warrior mind is grateful for everything that comes its way.

Using Willpower To Create

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.

~George Bernard Shaw

Paying attention to what we want, and using our imagination to create mental images of it, is to engage the two main creative powers of the subconscious mind. These innate powers influence and shape the way we experience things.

When we pay attention to particular thoughts on a regular basis, when we hold particular images habitually in the mind, they become our experience. Through conscious use of the power of intention we can have significant influence on the way we experience ourselves and the world around us. Intention empowers us.

To shape our experience and to consciously improve our lives we need to bring consciousness to bear on the creative powers of the mind. The creative trinity of intent, attention and imagination represent a complete 'tool set' with which we can create in every area of our lives.

Thoughts and Words Have Power

Thoughts and words are daily conveyors of the power of intention. We think about the past and about the future. We think about what we want and what we don't want. We think about who we are and who we may one day become. When we express these thoughts verbally, they tell the 'story' of our lives.

Every time we tell 'our story' - whether to ourselves or shared with others - it is reinforced. This is why we need to consciously care for the thoughts and words we allow ourselves to entertain and use. They should align with what we want to create in our lives. Thoughts and words are the first stepping stone of out-of-the-mind self improvement and motivation.

Powerful Channels Of Intent

One way to use thoughts and words to better our life is through the conscious discipline of setting smart goals. Establishing smart goals helps focus our energy and channel our intentions towards specific results. Smart goal setting helps us harness the powers of the mind and create as we will. They can be regarded as channels of intent for our personal power to flow through.

Another channel of intent we can use to better our lives is the cultivation of gratitude as an antidote to victim mentality. As we become more intimate with the benefits of gratitude we realize how powerful it is as a directing force in a proactive life. It is another amazing vehicle with which to exercise the power of intention.

Revisiting Our Stories - Renewing Our Intent

As we become more conscious of the 'stories' we tell both ourselves and others we gain a modicum of control over our lives. Sometimes we may find that our 'story line' isn't compatible with where we actually want to be in our lives or with where we want to go. Our story is keeping us stuck in 'same old, same old' when what we really want to do is move on.

A conscious revision of the stories we have come to believe in may be in order. We may need to tell a bran new story for our lives - a story that finally empowers us to live our best instead of keeping us stuck or dragging us down.

Self help hypnosis can be of great assistance when it comes to changing some of the subconscious stories we have internalized and taken as truth. If an idea or belief isn't serving us well it is our responsibility to change it. Hypnosis opens a way.

Desire vs. Intention

There is a difference between wanting something and actually intending for it to happen. It is often what sets the difference between wishful thinking and purposeful action.

Wanting doesn't cost us anything. Intending something to happen, on the other hand, requires a commitment to do what it takes to bring about the intended results. Wanting something doesn't equal a commitment to getting it.

Some Accountability Please...

Keeping a goal setting journal can help us keep track of our goals and remind us of our intentions. As we monitor our progress, dealing with the various obstacles that are bound to come up, we learn to make necessary adjustments. This contributes to ongoing personal growth, self improvement and motivation.

Visit set your smart goals online as a way to create accountability for yourself in achieving your goals. By starting an online goal setting journal other visitors can be privy to your goals and to your ongoing progress in achieving them. People will have the ability to comment on your online journal, offering their encouragement and support.

For more out-of-the-mind self improvement and motivation articles related to the power of intention, visit:

Why Is Goal Setting Important

Examples Of Smart Goals

Benefits Of Goal Setting

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